Here are our best cocktail recipes to try. Our cocktail ideas are ideal for any occasion, whether you’re catering for a fancy cocktail party or simply fancy treating yourself on a Thursday night at home. From refreshing and fruity cocktails, to trendy gin cocktail recipes (check out our gin fizz or White Lady) and punchy negronis and martinis, we have plenty of cocktail recipes to shake up.
Mezcal paloma
Check out this quick and easy summer cocktail recipe with mezcal, zesty limes and sweet yet slightly bitter grapefruit juice. A paloma is usually made with tequila but using mezcal instead adds a lovely smoky edge to the drink.
Dark and stormy punch
Want an easy rum punch recipe? Check out this quick and easy summer cocktail recipe with tropical pineapple, zesty limes and fiery ginger.
ll aperitivo Italicus prosecco cocktail
With hints of lavender, rose and ripe citrus, this refreshing floral cocktail is a super easy summer party drink.
Mezcal, pineapple and jalapeño smash
The smoky notes of the mezcal work wonderfully with the grilled pineapple and gentle heat from the chilli in this spicy drink. It’s simple to make and can easily be made into a jug cocktail for a crowd.
Ginger margarita
This twist on a classic margarita is the perfect thing to cool you down on late summer days – it would work as a jug cocktail too. The recipe comes from Spice Market, a South-east Asian restaurant in the W Hotel, Leicester Square, that serves stylish interpretations of street food.
Blackberry cider fizz
Craft cider is hot right now and it makes a great addition to cocktails like this. Here we’ve paired it with a seasonal, fuss-free homemade cordial and William’s Elegant Gin from Chase that’s distilled from Herefordshire cider apples.
Tomatini
Yes, this is a vodka and tomato cocktail but not as you know it. Far from the sometimes-soupy bloody mary, the tomatini is a fresh, zingy pick-me-up with a delicious savoury note that’s perfect for sunshine sipping any time of the day. Ketel One is a Dutch vodka crafted in Schiedam by the Nolet family who have over 300 years of distilling expertise. It gets its name from the coal-fired pot still number one (distilleerketel #1), which is still in use today, and is a beautifully smooth, full vodka with fresh notes of citrus and black pepper.
Have a look at our top vodka cocktail recipes here…
Negroni sbagliato
Fed up of the same old mulled wine? Check out our mulled white wine recipe instead, or try a negroni sbagliato. Swapping the gin for prosecco makes for a lighter negroni and softens the bitterness, an ideal aperitif for those who find a classic negroni a bit much.
Rhubarb and rose gin fizz
We’ve given a classic ramos gin fizz an update for Valentine’s Day, swapping the usual orange blossom water for rose water and adding a touch of homemade rhubarb syrup to give it a blush of pink. It’s delicate in flavour and creamy enough to replace dessert, and is bound to impress.
This fabulous looking cocktail from the Callooh Callay bar in Shoreditch is coloured deep purple from the beetroot juice, shaken with bat Bacardi and served in a champagne flute.
Whip up this tempting cocktail in just 10 minutes. Whether you dust off your juicer or buy shop-bought clementine juice your guests will love this sparkling fizz.
This refreshing cocktail of apple-infused iced tea (made with brandy, of course) is easy to make and perfect for an evening of entertaining. Makes enough to share with friends.
Kentucky Royale
The best bourbon cocktail. This classic recipe mixes bourbon with Chambord, the delicious raspberry liqueur. Ginger beer ties it all together and a raspberry garnish finishes it off nicely.
Marmalade and mandarin mojito
Marmalade mojitos make a deliciously jammy cocktail, made to look really delicious with mandarin slices and star anise. Try this five minute cocktail recipe for an easy refresher. We’ve got loads more rum cocktail ideas here.
Sweet Thai basil smash
Make your own sweet Thai basil smash cocktail, invented by the folk at Rosa’s Thai cafe in London. All you need is an egg white, lemon juice, Thai basil, sugar syrup and a lot of booze.
Bos Taurus
This cocktail comes from Bull in a China Shop, an Asian-inspired all-day restaurant in Shoreditch specialising in rotisserie chicken and whisky, with a collection of over 30, including rare varieties. It also embraces the charcoal trend in everything from breakfast to cocktails. This one is a little easier to create at home, though, using Nikka from the barrel, a fantastic Japanese whisky with floral notes and only a little oak.
Burleighs White Lady cocktail
Leicestershire gin maker, Burleighs, has used its export strength gin to make this timeless cocktail. The gin’s fresh orange notes pair effortlessly with the bitter orange Cointreau and fresh lemon juice.
The new spritz
Vermouth is back in style and it’s THE thing to be drinking this summer. We love Cocchi’s range of vermouths, and this zesty Cocchi Americano spritz, topped up with white grapefruit juice and prosecco is perfect for summer. The spritz was originally wine with a dash of soda water, before people started adding bitters to soda, tonic and prosecco to create modern-day versions.
Rhubarb and ginger negroni
This update on the classic negroni using rhubarb and ginger is a great shout for spring. It comes from Black Dice, a 1960s rock ‘n’ roll inspired bar tucked away beneath Moroccan restaurant MOMO in Mayfair. It’s open until 3am, perfect for a nightcap.
Tiojito
Pronounced tee-oh-hee-toe, this cocktail consists of Tio Pepe fino sherry, lemonade, mint and fresh lemon. If you want to make a jug multiply the amounts by four.
What’s the dilli’o
This fresh, tropical cocktail comes from one of O’s favourite bars, The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town. We’re seeing a growing trend for using herbs and vegetables in cocktails, and this is a good way to ease yourself in as it’s still got some familiar flavours. This cocktail is really easy to make at home, but if you want to try it out at the bar, head to the Breakfast Club near Liverpool Street and ask to speak to the Mayor…
Frozen peach margaritas
Nothing quite says summer like a frozen margarita and we’ve given it a fruity twist with this recipe for frozen peach margaritas. They’re easy to make and perfect for a boozy dessert.
Limoncello and thyme collins
Making your own limoncello is surprisingly easy. Take it, as a gift, to a BBQ, use it in ice lollies, or knock-up this easy twist on a collins.
